Bucks chat with Matt Velazquez

Tuesday, Oct. 10 transcript

3rd & 7 37yd

3rd & 7 37yd

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Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the first of what I hope will be many Bucks chats over the course of the season. Since you're here, I'll assume you know that my name is Matt Velazquez and I'm the Bucks beat reporter for the Journal Sentinel. It's my first year on the beat after covering the team in a complementary role over the past four seasons. I'm thrilled to see what the season holds and am looking forward to interacting with all of you over the course of the year across multiple platforms. That said, let's dive into the questions!

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:32:47 AM

Which players have the best shot at making the Bucks a three-point threat this season? How it important will the three be to the team's chances?

by Jim D.10/11/2017 12:33:00 AM

Thanks for the question, Jim. Looking back to last year, the Bucks shot 37.0% from three-point range, which ranked 10th in the league. Good stuff. Their overall makes, though, ranked 22nd in the league at 8.8 per game and their attempts ranked 24th in the league at 23.7 per game. Not as good. Those latter numbers will be the ones the Bucks need to bump up while keeping their percentage at or above where it was. A healthy Khris Middleton — a career 40.4% three-point shooter — should help the Bucks this season, especially considering he projects to be such a major part of the Bucks' offense. Milwaukee will look for Tony Snell to continue his hot shooting from last season and possibly even pull the trigger more. He was the best shooter on the team by eFG% last season and was great on catch-and-shoot 3's. One player the Bucks will need to get more from is Mirza Teletovic, who set the NBA record for 3's off the bench with Phoenix in 2015-'16 but wasn't nearly as effective last year.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:37:46 AM

Where are the Bucks most lacking headed into this season?

by Jason10/11/2017 12:38:17 AM

Good question, Jason. As of right now, I'd say they're lacking on playmakers/creators. Outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Greg Monroe, there aren't many guys who are either willing or able to create their own shots or make things happen. We've seen this in years past and definitely during the preseason. Malcolm Brogdon has shown flashes but will still need to improve in this regard. Matthew Dellavedova can make passes to find open teammates but isn't one to create his own shot. This is an area where Jabari Parker's injury especially hurts since he's someone who is able to use his quickness and athleticism to make things happen at any moment.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:41:45 AM

The Bucks are pretty thin (not just their bodies) - is there any chance they can move Mirza, Delly, Monroe or Henson for anything this year? Would it make sense to, in your opinion? I like Monroe for another year, but the other three aren't much more than bench "help".

by James10/11/2017 12:42:46 AM

Thanks for jumping in, James. Anyone is "movable" but the question here is what could the Bucks get in return? Teletovic, Dellavedova and Henson are owed $21 million over two years, $28.8 million over three and $31.7 million over three, respectively. The challenges here would be to find teams that would want one (or more) of these players and either have cap room to absorb them or players with matching salaries to send back. So far it's safe to assume those deals don't exist without the Bucks potentially sweetening the pot by throwing in a future pick. I don't know if it's wise to mortgage the future by dumping a pick, especially a first-rounder, just to let go of one of these players. Obviously in an ideal world, the Bucks would hope each of these players contributes more than last year, especially Teletovic and Dellavedova who weren't at their best in their first seasons in Milwaukee. When it comes to Monroe, he's in the final year of his contract at $17.8 million and has become one of the best sixth men in the NBA. He's fairly critical to the Bucks' success which leads me to believe he's not likely to change teams unless the Bucks can find particularly good short- and long-term value for him on the market.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:49:22 AM

What was the worst contract/player decision the Bucks have made in the last 5 years, in you opinion? That's a good question. There were a bunch - Salmons, OJ, Mirza, Plumlee. OUCH!

by James10/11/2017 12:50:24 AM

Back-to-back queries from James. Off the top of my head, I'd say that Mayo deal was especially bad considering how little he produced combined with the fact that they ultimately paid out the whole thing. Teletovic still has time to make his deal look more reasonable. The positive with the Plumlee deal is the Bucks were able to off-load it without having to pay a large portion of it.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:51:55 AM

In my opinion the Delly and Telly contracts were super shorted-sided. Sure the NBA didn't think the cap was going flatten or possibly even go down but they both sure look A. Mas (RIP), Bobby Simmons, and Danny G-esque. Now to move either of those guys, it will take giving up draft picks as a sweetener. Given the ability to have guys on cheap two-ways contracts, why didn't the Bucks leave themselves some flexibility for the last couple spots on The 15?

by Cheesehead Sports Nut10/11/2017 12:52:28 AM

Thanks for the question. Dellavedova and Teletovic definitely benefitted from being free agents during the summer of the cap spike. At the time, those contracts were within the range of those getting handed out around the league and even held the potential to be good/decent deals. Then the cap flattened as you mentioned, both players had ups and downs in their first season and those deals have begun to look a little more cumbersome. I'm not exactly sure about your last question, but the Bucks did leave themselves two spots this season. One they chose to give to Jason Terry and the other they're still deciding on. Both two-way spots are still open, so they can hand those out to young players they want to keep control of and continue to develop in the G League.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:56:22 AM

I am totally confused by John Henson. I know everyone was one pick away from taking Draymond Green in the 2012 NBA Draft but he fell to 35 so let's leave him aside. When the Bucks drafted Henson, it looked like they got one of the eight best guys in the draft at 14. Since then, things have been up and down for Henson. There is no doubt that Henson has the perfect body to be a defensive stalwart on the second unit next to Monroe but is it his inability to score and (occasional) lack of effort that hurts his cause?

by Cheesehead Sports Nut10/11/2017 12:57:20 AM

I find it hard to imagine Henson and Monroe playing too many minutes alongside Monroe considering two-center lineups are rare and neither is a particularly good perimeter defender, which they would need to be since teams would try to spread them out as much as possible. I see another question about Henson, so more on him later.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 12:58:33 AM

The Bucks would clearly be taking a huge risk signing Jabari Parker to a long-term contract before the season given his injury history but Joel Embiid just got a five-year, $148 million contract so the Bucks need to consider locking Parker up instead of losing him via a huge offer sheet in restricted free a couple years from now. Parker could hold out for more money once he shows that he is healthy but nine-figure extension will be hard to turn down. How do you see this playing out?

by Cheesehead Sports Nut10/11/2017 12:59:00 AM

This is the biggest question surrounding the Bucks and I agree with multiple national reporters who believe this will go down to the wire. On one hand, the Bucks like Parker and want to keep him around. Had he not gotten hurt again, it's reasonable to believe the extension might already be done and it might have been a max contract. On the other hand, the Bucks would still have the ability to keep Parker in the offseason since he would be a restricted free agent. In that situation, they could either reach an agreement with him before anyone else extends an offer sheet — like they did with Snell this season — or be in a position to match any offer another team makes. As far as I know, another team couldn't offer as much money as the Bucks could, though the max they could offer would still be substantial. It's a tough decision and one I'll be following. Unless someone can see the future regarding Parker's health, I don't know if there's an obvious right answer.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:03:03 AM

Matt, something I have been noticing in the Bucks blogosphere and Twitter is a certain amount of confusion on how well the team will do this year. Nationally, there have been some outlets treating the team as a surefire 45-50+ win team with a top 10 D and O. Locally, we see some fans buying into that, but we also have trusted local experts who are very weary, especially with the defense. How would you break down the entire situation? Did the playoffs inflate reputations? Is Kidd in for a rude awakening?

by Bill10/11/2017 1:03:20 AM

The Bucks are part of the middle tier of the Eastern Conference where everyone's default reaction is basically ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. We all expect the Celtics and Cavaliers will be at the top in some order but what happens with the hodgepodge of the Raptors, Wizards, Bucks, Hornets and Heat is less clear. At their best, the Bucks could definitely challenge the Raptors and Wizards for the No. 3/4 seed. If things get off track, the Bucks could certainly slip down to the No. 6/7 spot. I think the playoff appearance put the Bucks more on the map — as did the rise of Giannis — but the biggest thing is the Eastern Conference is just bad. You could probably cross off 5-6 teams right now, meaning the pool of potential playoff teams is only 9-10 teams for 8 spots. How the Bucks fare will depend on how they handle themselves against the top teams as well as not playing down against those on the bottom, which has been an issue.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:07:40 AM

Why haven't the Bucks dumped John Henson yet? Does he have a role on this team?

by Big O10/11/2017 1:07:43 AM

I'll tackle the second question first. His role right now is that of the third center. He'll get some run, hopefully provide some solid defense and an inside scoring option on offense and give Maker and Monroe a break. If either of the centers above him get hurt he'll have to slide in and pick up the slack. Why haven't they dumped him is a different question. As I mentioned earlier, he has over $30 and three years left on his contract. There aren't many teams with cap space looking to invest that type of money and time into a player who hasn't consistently performed well/found a role at this level. If the Bucks wanted to move Henson they'd probably have to sweeten the deal by offering a pick — probably a first-rounder — and that's a pretty steep price. For now he's a player that's liked among his teammates and at his best can make a difference in games (see the playoff series against the Bulls that helped him get this contract).

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:12:11 AM

Does Giannis win the MVP this year?

by Ryan10/11/2017 1:12:14 AM

Good question, Ryan. I don't think he does, but there's a good chance he'll finish in the top 5 in the voting. He got some votes last year after leading the Bucks in every category and if he does that again and has even higher numbers and the Bucks win more he'll certainly draw plenty of attention from voters.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:13:40 AM

What do you make of the Maker Thon? Is he going to make a jump this year? Any idea why his jumper looks so good at times and then others a mile off? It's like he swishes some and then throws up some that aren't close.... kind of atypical of a shooter.

by Steve10/11/2017 1:14:07 AM

From everything I've heard, Thon's basically lived in the gym this summer in the hopes of building both his game and his body. The test for him will be can he keep up the high intensity level he showcased late last season/in the playoffs over the course of the full season. He was a ball of pure energy last year and improved as the season went on. However, he only averaged 9.9 minutes per game in 57 appearances. This year I expect the Bucks will look to get him more minutes (possibly 15-20 per game like in the playoffs) and hope his impact can continue to improve. As to his shot, I'd put that in the category of him being a rookie last year and still adjusting. If it continues we can revisit.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:17:21 AM

Do you think DJ Wilson will see early season minutes at the 4/5?

by Jordan 10/11/2017 1:17:32 AM

Thanks for the question, Jordan. He'll likely get some chances early on if for no other reason than Jason Kidd is the coach and he likes to spread minutes around/throw guys into the fire. I could see him splitting time at the 4 with Mirza Teletovic on the second unit and/or playing the 5 in a perimeter-oriented smallball-style lineup at times.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:19:54 AM

Who wins in an arm wrestling contest: Matt Valesquez or Thon Maker?

by bucksguy2910/11/2017 1:19:57 AM

When it comes to me vs. an NBA player in any feat of strength or basketball skill I'll go with the trained professional. I don't think I've beaten anyone in armwrestling in a decade. I'm not strong.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:20:58 AM

What are your expectations for the Bucks this year?

by Adam10/11/2017 1:21:07 AM

I'd put them at 47 wins this year, which could put them in the running for the 4 seed in the East. Giannis will continue to be otherworldly and this team with Parker back will be one that teams want no part of in the playoffs. Whether they turn that into the franchise's first series win since 2001 is up to them, but it's definitely in play.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:23:54 AM

Hi Matt. Any reason to believe the Bucks defense will improve? Gave up a jarring amount of restricted area FGs and open 3 pointers a year ago.

by Matt10/11/2017 1:24:20 AM

You're right about the jarring number of restricted area FGs and open 3s. Those numbers will need to go down in a big way. The Bucks have all the physical tools to cause havoc on defense but sometimes lack the attention to detail and drive to make that happen. If they're motivated on a nightly basis to lock down at that end we could see improvement. If not they'll continue to struggle in the same ways as past years and put together performances that resemble what they've done this preseason.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:26:32 AM

Who do you think has the edge right now for the final roster spot?

by Adam10/11/2017 1:26:47 AM

Adam, I wish I knew. I really do. They're keeping that decision close to the vest right now. In my mind, when it comes to the players they have in camp it makes the most sense for them to go with Brandon Rush or Gerald Green. Both would give different things. Rush has better career numbers as a three-point shooter and has instant credibility from being on the Warriors' first title team and 73-win squad. He's used to playing a smaller role and being a vet among younger players, which is both good and bad depending on how you look at it (i.e. it's good because that's useful or it's bad because the Bucks need someone who can make more of a tangible on-court difference). Green brings more of the possibly of filling the Beasley "get buckets" role. He's never been afraid to make things happen and remains a threat to shoot from outside or attack the rim using his athleticism for dunks. He's been a teammate of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, so if anyone knows what he's all about and what he would bring, it's those two.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:33:29 AM

Vaughn has got to show something this year, his shooting and slashing is very needed off the pine. If not he's gotta be on a trade package, right?

by Original TP10/11/2017 1:33:36 AM

He's quite aware that this is a big year for him. His minutes went down and his role diminished last year, which definitely not something he or the Bucks wanted, but he just wasn't contributing at the level they needed. He knows he needs to make a jump and prove he can make a difference this season. He's still only 21, so there's still time for him to make an impact, but with Parker out and Beasley gone, there's a bench-scoring void that will need to be filled. If he can't make a jump, it's within reason that he could wind up as trade filler down the road.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:36:01 AM

Thanks for taking time to answer questions, matt! Do you think the bucks will be active on the trade front this year? With that being said, if the bucks are contending, as we expect, do you think the biggest need is a pure scorer off the bench?

by Jordan 10/11/2017 1:36:12 AM

This question from Jordan will be the last one since there aren't any left in the queue. As of right now, I don't expect the Bucks will be active at the trade deadline. My reasoning is they don't have a glut of trade chips if they're not looking to move any of their starters. The bench guys are on lopsided contracts as discussed earlier, so if they're going to move one of them it would be in a situation where they'd be willing to give up a future first-round pick in order to bolster their potential to win now. In that situation, they'd probably have a good record and wouldn't mind giving up a low first-rounder. If things drastically fall off the rails, they might test the market for Monroe to see if anyone wants to rent his services for the remainder of the season. Pure scoring off the bench is certainly a need, but it's something the Bucks could get for free when Parker comes back.

by Matt Velazquez10/11/2017 1:40:07 AM

Thanks again for the questions, everyone. I hope this was as enjoyable for you as it was for me. In past years on the Marquette beat I tried to do one of these a month and I'll try to keep that going now that I'm on the Bucks beat.